Eleanor M. Coburn

Eleanor “Ellie” M. Coburn, 83, of St. Joseph, passed away Sunday evening, March 30, 2008, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph. A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 5, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. at the Wasik Funeral Chapel, 49150 Schoenherr Road, in Shelby Township MI. Visitation with the family will be held one hour prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Per her wishes, cremation has taken place and burial will be private. Local arrangements have been entrusted to the Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home. There will be a St. Joseph remembrance service in May. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association. Those wishing to send the family a message of condolence may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com. Ellie, originally from East Detroit MI, was born May 11, 1924, in Dayton OH, and was one of five children born to Herman & Edith Mathews. She married John A. (Jack) Coburn on May 30, 1946 and together they had two children, Judy & Jim. Ellie worked for Keystone Metal Molding for over 30 years and was instrumental in opening their new plant in Mississippi. Ellie had a good sense of humor and love for her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed traveling, baking, playing cards, and was once quite a bowler. Ellie is survived by her children, Judy (Tom) Carson of Benton Harbor MI and Jim (Maureen) Coburn of Macomb, MI; grandchildren Jennifer, Kristine, Erin, Teresa, Yvonne, Mike and Steve; great-grandchildren Brad, Nathan, Riley, Karly and Kristi; and her brother Floyd Mathews of Eastpointe MI and sister Dorothy Teagarden of Glenford OH. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Coburn; and siblings Herm Mathews and Betty Burns.